Bath sponge



W. J. GOULD July 19, 1938.

BATH SPONGE Filed May 8, 1936 i W X Ni i Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in rubber sponges.

Sponges consisting entirely of rubber because of their more or less rough surfaces and mild abrasive characteristics form excellent vehicles for cleansing or washing various objects including the human body. However, while sponges of this type are apparently extremely porous they do not absorb water as readily as a natural sponge, and soap applied thereto instead of penetrating into the interior remains more or less upon the surface.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a composite sponge in which will be combined the water and soap absorbing features of a natural sponge with the mild abrasive characteristics of the rubber sponge.

With this object in view, my invention includes the novel elements and combinations of elements described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the back of my sponge; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, my composite sponge in its preferred form comprises a body I of sponge rubber, which may have any desirable shape but is preferably made in the form of a flat circular disc, as shown. This body may be cut with a suitable circular die from a sheet of sponge rubber, and preferably at the same time an opening 2 is formed in the center of the body by cutting out the disc 3. Suitable cement 4 is then applied to the edge of the disc 3 and. it is replaced in the body I, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide a recess 5 in the face of the body and an ofi'set or projection at the back. A piece of sheepskin 6 with the wool I thereon is cut to substantially the same size as the center recess in the body of the sponge and the skin side of the sheepskin is secured in the recess 5 by means of cement 8 between the disc 3 and the skin. Preferably the depth of the recess 5 is such that the exposed surface 9 of the wool projects somewhat beyond the face Ill of the sponge rubber as shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that the operation of replacing the disc 3 and the positioning of the sheepskin may be done very quickly and, before the cement used in the operation is set, the device is placed flatwise in a press and subjected to substantial pressure until the cement has set. When the pressure is relieved, the upper edge II of the disc 3, which was originally square, will be found to have assumed the form shown at l2 because of the cement which draws the entire edge of the disc down in the manner shown.

In order toprovide a means whereby the sponge may be readily held in the hand, a strap I3, preferably of sponge rubber, extends across the back of the sponge and is cemented at its extremities [4 to the rubber body. This strap is, of course, elastic and may be stretched to permit the hand or a portion thereof to be inserted between it and the back of the sponge.

The wool center absorbs water and soap very readily and an excellent lather may be produced by simply rubbing acake of soap upon the wool surface. As the sponge is moved over the body to be cleansed, the soapy center will loosen the dirt and the slightly abrasive ring of sponge rubber around the wool will effectively remove the dirt.

While I have shown my invention in its preferred form which is a rather flat circular disc, it is to be understood that other shapes may be employed. Likewise, other changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described. comprising a body of sponge rubber having a centrally disposed depression in one side thereof, and a piece of sheepskin, with the wool thereon, adhesively secured in said depression with the wool side of said skin exposed.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body of sponge rubber having a centrally disposed depression in one side thereof, and a piece of sheepskin, with the wool thereon, adhesively secured in said depression with the wool side of said skin exposed; said wool extending somewhat beyond the exterior surface of said rubber body.

3. A device of the character described comprising a disc-like body of sponge rubber having a centrally disposed circular recess therein of substantially uniform depth throughout, and a circular piece of sheepskin with the wool thereon secured in said recess with the wool side of said skin exposed.

4. A device of the character described comprising a substantially flat body of sponge rubber having a central recess in the face thereof but of substantially the same thickness throughout, a piece of sheepskin with the wool thereon conforming in size and shape substantially to said recess and secured therein with the wool side exposed, and a sponge rubber strap extending across the back of said body and secured thereto at its extremities adapted to permit the hand to be slipped thereunder.

5. A device of the character described comprising a substantially flat body of sponge rubber having a struck-out central portion forming a recessed area in the face of said body, and a piece of sheepskin with the W001 thereon secured in said recess to form an element adapted to absorb soap and water.

WILLIAM J. GOULD. 

